Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-02
A RICH WOMAN-S PALACE.
The Magntncent Residence Mrs. Mark
Hopkins 10 Buildtng-To Cost Two
Million Dollars.

ton. Mass. accord NJ to Alta California.
is IN reality a palace. and one of the
most magnificent private residences in
the country. The building is situated
on the east side of Main street i'm the
rear and little TO the south of the
Hopkins homestead. and about five
minutes walk from the depot. The
grounds have frontage of nearly n
quarter of a mile on the main
street The material used in
building is do'omitc blue stone, OBJ
tanned from the Hopkins quarry on
East mountain. The grand entrance
to the house is on the north side. Pas.
sing up W de IL ght Of granite steps.
the coming guest will enter the
vestibule. the floor, walls, and ceiling
of which will also he of blue stone.
Passing through tn S, one enters the main
hall. VIII ch in its grandeur cclipses that
in many European castle. The floors
and walls are of imported marble.
The greater portion of this hall is two
stories in height. 1t runs across the
entire front Of the building. q distance
OF sixty feet. and is proportionately
wide. Turning to the left tower is
cloah-room, and hydraulic elevator,
the well reaching to the upper floor
In corresponding tower at the right
is 'eception-room. A mammoth fire.
place tends to cheer and add TO the
warmth of the hall. Crossing it one
enters the dtrtuln. which with the hall
forms an inverted L. and runs through
to the rear OF the house. The atrium
is iON25 feet and 20 feet in the clear.
The floor is 10 be of marble the ce ling
VIII be OF stucco work, polished 10 |
initiate ivory. The side walls will be |
paneled with costly mosaics. Illuminated
from the back by electric lights.
he rear end is almost ent rely of glass
Passing through this, one will step out
to porch or veranda. semicircular in
form. which overlooks meadow OF
700 acres. in the center of which is a
fountain. the basin Of being 80 feet in
tameter. a wide H. ht of steps leads
% the plaza below the veraDda and two
i ghts of steps bring one to the drive
way on the meadow. % feet lower
Town. In the dtrium are TO be several
'ostly pieces OF statuary. One hundred
ma fortyfour l6-candle power electric
ights brighten this noble room.
On either side of the atrtun is a cor
ldor lead ng from the main hall TO the
ear Passing through the one on the
Ell, the dinlng-room is first reached
he Il mansions are 24x30 feet. the
ell hg, like those OF other rooms on ,
his floor. being 20 feet high. The liy-
lg-room occupies the tower at the
'ght drawing room being in the OPP {
2slte tower, Convenient to the din 6
lg-room is the buffers pantry. Is feet .
4uare. In this is barrow fire and t
urglar-proof safe, reaching TO the Y
eiling. and with two sets Of doors. q
PIPER and lower. A gallery midway q
ON the floor to the ceiling runs o
round this room, so that china on up b
er shelves may be gotten at conven- 5
nuy. The breakfast-room is in :,
'wer at the east end Of the main hall. I
Is circular in form AMI - feet in q
amcteT. To return to the main hall O
nd to the right of the dtrt,tm is the q
rand staircase. built Of marble. After i,
ak nc four turns to the right in as d
nd ne a corridor on the second floor .
reached. This corridor runs TO the 4
ar of the house. and, rs in the case {.
it'll the one above it,, overlooks the =.
usic-room. The grand staircase. o
hich approaches from cit er side and d
rectly over the entr; &c, leads TO the Z,
urd and fourth floors. The space h
'er the dtrium. save that devoted TO :,
nen closets. etc, is occupied by in
lest chamber, with dress ng-room. y,
nh room. and room for n maid. ~
he bedroom occupied by the owner of 10
this magniiicence is directly over I,
e dinng-room and of the same d- n
ensions; her maids room is adioin- h
q and her boudor is in the tower u
er the breakfastroom. As has been ii
ated. a portion of the main hall is II
It one story in height $,
Over this portion and occupying a 10
rye part of the front of the house on :,
5, the second floor. is to be the y
'rary. with rcading-room in the I'll
'rthwest tower That port on of this 81
or not already described is devoted
su ties OF guest-rooms. each of which
5 It's separate bathroom. maid room,
;. With the except on of smoking D,
ON in the smaller northwest tower, a
= third floor is divided up into su ties W
rooms. The fourth floor will be de- 10
ted mainly TO the servants quarters. tn
stairway OH the east side of the m
use they descend 10 the lower re- n
)ns. Were the visitor to do likewise. fo
would soon find himself in the Ms
chen. directly under the dining bs